Old Moor Wetland Centre RSPB reserve
Coordinates: 53°30′55″N 1°21′53″W / 53.51528°N 1.36472°W
RSPB Old Moor is a 250-acre (1.0 km2) wetlands nature reserve in Barnsley, England run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). It lies on the junction of the north/south and east/west routes of the Trans Pennine Trail. The centre was opened by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council in 1998 as part of the regeneration of the Dearne Valley and then developed further with the help of a lottery grant in 2002. The RSPB took over management of the site in 2003 and developed the site further with funding from various sources including the Heritage Lottery Fund, Yorkshire Forward and WREN. The area around RSPB Old Moor contains several other wildlife areas including Wombwell Ings and Gypsy Marsh, (which are also managed by the RSPB), Broomhill Flash and Doveside Nature Reserve.
Facilities
The reserve is entered through converted farm buildings which form the visitor centre, including a shop and the restaurant, with a balcony overlooking the reserve. There is also a classroom for educational visits and meeting rooms which can be used by local businesses, community groups and others. There is a children's adventure playground next to the farmhouse.
Picnic areas are situated on various trails throughout the reserve. There are also several bird hides with good views of the main habitats. They are all based on land cutting through the middle of the main lakes. This means that the furthest hide is only half a mile from the visitor centre.
Car and coach parking is available.
Habitat
The reserve is based around several lakes which form marshland and reedbeds, as well as the open water. There is also land based grassland and bushy habitat. There is also a small garden maintained beside the visitor centre.
At the eastern end of the reserve there are several ponds surrounded by shrubbery and bushes. This attracts smaller species, amphibians, and insects.
Bird species
The centre boasts up to 8,000 golden plovers and 2,000 lapwings. It also has over 250 tree sparrows (an endangered species). Other notable species include coots and year-round wildfowl.